This week’s Eagle Scout Spotlight is with Adithya Palle of Troop 110. He is Golden Gate Area Council’s first Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award recipient for the construction of a Tule House at Tule Ponds in Fremont. He earned his Eagle Scout in November of 2020 and enjoys cooking, making the cooking merit badge his favorite. Upon graduation from American High School this spring, Adithya has plans to attend a four-year university in the fall.
Scouting is a great journey that you will truly only get the most out of if you learn to have fun and try out everything.
Adithya Palle
Are you a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, NESA Distinguished Service Award, or Adams Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award, or a member of the NESA Legacy Society?
I was awarded the Golden Gate Area Council’s Adams Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award for my Tule House project. I was recognized for this award in February of 2021.
Eagle Fact
Adithya is the first recipient of the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams national Eagle Scout service project of the year award (ESSPY) in the Golden Gate Area Council.
The award was established to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by an Eagle Scout candidate through completion of an Eagle Scout project. Click to learn more about the award.
Tell us a little bit about you…
I live in Fremont, California and attend American High School as a Senior. Next year, I plan to study at a 4 year University.
I like to spend my free time cooking various foods, trading stocks and options, playing videogames, and participating in scouting activities with my troop!
When and where do you earn your Eagle Scout?
I earned my Eagle Scout when I was 17 in November 2020.
I was part of Troop 110 in Union City , a part of the San Francisco Bay Area Council.
What did you do for your Eagle Project? What was your reaction when you found out it was selected as the Eagle Project of the Year?
For my Eagle Project, I constructed a Tule House at Tule Ponds in Fremont. A Tule House is a structure that local Native American groups built as shelters in the past. The process involved cutting, planting, and framing Arroyo Willow Branches to form a frame for the house and then cutting and placing Tules as thatching around the frame.
When I found out I won Eagle Project of the year I was overjoyed and grateful. I understood how rigorous my project was, so I was very excited to see that all this hard work had paid off and was recognized. After hearing about this accomplishment, I immediately went on to thank my troop as none of it would have been possible with the immense effort and dedication they put in. Thanks Troop 110!
Did you have a favorite merit badge(s)? Did any merit badges(s) lead to a hobby or profession?
My favorite merit badge was the cooking merit badge as it is what sprouted my hobby for cooking. I’ve always had an interest in preparing and eating various foods, so by practicing cooking in scouting and taking this merit badge, I was able to explore and practice this hobby more. Cooking meals during week-long camps, regular campouts, and at home for the merit badge have been some of my dearest memories from scouting. The skills I learned from that merit badge have set me up to become a great chef at my home, and I hope to continue to develop this skill into my future.
Eagle Fact
The cooking merit badge was one of the eleven original Eagle required merit badges in 1914. In the 1970’s it was removed from the required list, but was re-designated as an Eagle required merit badge in 2014.
What does being an Eagle Scout mean to you?
To me, being an eagle scout means that I have fulfilled the Scout Oath and Scout law and will continue to do my best to support my community and others around me. It also means that I am prepared for my future and will be able to use scouting skills such as leadership, teamwork, and communication to guide my future.
Do you have any advice for your fellow Eagles, or for those working towards becoming an Eagle? Or is there common advice that you think should be ignored?
My biggest piece of advice to scouts working towards Eagle is to take it slow and never feel pressured to rush and finish up your Eagle. Scouting is a great journey that you will truly only get the most out of if you learn to have fun and try out everything. Rather than just rushing through requirements and doing the bare minimum to get the patch, take your time to try out different things(even if not for any requirements) and learn something new along each step of the way. If you push yourself out of your comfort zone and fail, learn, and laugh, you will truly get the most out of the scouting experience, something far more valuable than just rushing through the ranks.
If you could add a thirteenth point to the scout law, what would it be?
“diligent”. I believe being diligent is one of the most valuable qualities in any person as not everyone will have the same opportunities or gifts, but everyone is able to work hard and achieve the same outcomes. Diligence has aided me through much of my scouting experience and many other endeavors.
